Sitting Empty In A Soon-To-Be- Eggless Nest!

As I write this, I am not only going through menopause, but my twin sons – my only children, my youngest and oldest – are leaving the nest. As you read this, they will have just moved into dorms at separate colleges. I am sitting eggless in what is about to be an empty nest. While I am both very excited and nervous for them — and for me — it doesn’t seem real. Doesn’t seem possible. Then I look at the tuition and housing bills, and I realize it’s all as real as I now know Kim Kardashian’s “back story” is since she made the wise and tasteful decision of having it X-rayed on TV to clear up any doubt. (I know Iam sleeping better since she took that brave step, and I have to imagine the rest of the country is, too.)

Please read the rest here. It's my monthly guest column for Health Bistro and Lifescript.com! To all my friends on the east coast, best wishes for riding out Irene! I will likely be unable to comment due to power loss for days, possibly weeks, but really appreciate your readership!

The "F" Word: Why Fifty is so NOT the New Thirty

If, like me, you are rapidly approaching the "f" word (fifty), are you as tired as I am of hearing "Fifty is the new thirty!"?! I talk about why I think it's SO NOT here. It's my monthly column for the good folks at Lifescript, and I think you'll really enjoy visiting the site. Lots of great info for us Ungirdled gals at any age! But especially those of us hovering around the "F" word!

Thanks for visiting! Best wishes for a wonderful (symptom-free!) rest of summer!

Female Role Models: Snooki vs. Samantha Stevens

I grew up wanting to be “bewitching” like Samantha, “lost in space” like Penny, and cleverly kick-butt like Agent 99. Those were my role models on TV, some of the females most revered in popular culture at the time. They were women and girls who used their wits (ok, and a little witchcraft) to save the day. Samantha was forever saving the bumbling Darren and his advertising accounts at McMann & Tate -usually on her wits alone. Penny was a space pioneer battling aliens and a wily Dr. Smith. Secret Agent 99 used her cunning and martial arts skills to get Maxwell Smart out of countless jams.

Fast forward 20 some years after my childhood (OK, 30…oh alright! 40!) and who do our young girls see capturing the media’s airtime and the public’s attention and admiration? The first female speaker of the house? Not so much. Female journalists? Only if they are on the E! network or TMZ. Women who lead the way in medicine, education or environmentalism? Not unless you count renaming cocaine “gum” once it’s found in your purse as a medical breakthrough or see turning “leaked” sex tapes into high-paying stardom as recycling and repurposing.

Read the rest here where I am guest-blogging at Health Bistro! Thanks so much for visiting!

Forget TMI; These Days There Can Be TMP

My pulse quickens. My hands shake. My colon tightens. I begin to sweat profusely. I can’t believe it’s happening again. I’ve just received a message that a friend has “tagged” a photo of me on facebook.

My mind races as my fingers fly across the keyboard. What event did I recently attend where someone had a camera? Or did my “friend” post a shot from back in the day that would be best hidden from the view of my children, my mother and local authorities? How quickly can I logon and view the photo and then “untag” it before everyone on my friend list (forget everyone on the friend’s friend list) can see the wattle and the roll of fat I fear is showing.

These are the worries in the age of TMP: Too Much Photography.

Seems everywhere you go these days, (read the rest here. Thanks for visiting!)

Royal Wedding, Schmoyal Wedding. Today We Honor The Ultimate Queen: Mom!

"Lie down with a dog with fleas, and you'll get fleas!" "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!" Where would you be without all mom's sage advice? Most likely, you'd be lying in a ditch "somewhere" with at least one eye poked out and without clean underwear on.

So, today, the day of the royal wedding, I honor the first queen we all know in life: mom and all her funny, confusing, helpful "momisms." It's my monthly guest column for the good folks at healthbistro.com. Check it out here and honor your own mom by sharing a few of your favorite momisms at the end of the post.

A very happy Mother's Day to all moms! (And of course, I watched the wedding this morning and thought the couple absolutely gorgeous. Di's boy did good, didn't he?!)

Spring Fever - What Are Your Symptoms?

This week we welcomed spring, and everyone I know is happy about it. Seems like this winter in particular was a messy, sloppy, irritating houseguest who long overstayed his welcome. As a result, many are catching spring fever, and I've realized we each present our own unique “symptoms” with this bug. Today I cover four I’ve recently observed. Do you have one of these particular symptoms? Find out here. It's my monthly guest column for the way-cool Health Bistro blog. I'd love to hear about your particular spring fever symptoms at the end of the post there. Thanks for visiting and commenting!

HAPPY SPRING!!

Greeting card at right sold here along with lots of other great things like fabulous birthday, Mother's Day and teachers' gifts!

Bunco, Book Club - When It Comes To Health Benefits, You Can Say BINGO!

How does having a regular "monthly" benefit your health and well-being? In more ways than you might ever imagine! If you've ever had guilt heading out the door for your monthly club meeting, read about the benefits here and banish that guilt for good! It's my monthly guest column at Health Bistro! Thanks for visiting! I would love to hear how your "monthly" benefits you in the comments section at the end of the post.